Civilian killed in grenade attack on rice mill workers

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 July 2005, 07:20 GMT]One civilian was killed and two were seriously wounded when unidentified gunmen lobbed a grenade into a rice mill in Pattiyadipitty, Akkariapattu Sunday night around 11.30 PM, Police said. Gunmen entered a room where six employees were sleeping and fired into the room after lobbing a grenade, sources said.

The employee killed was identified as Mr Anpan, aged 35 years. He is a father of a child.

Mr Kathiramalai, 45, a father of 7 children and Mr Perinpan, 35, a father of 4 children were injured in the attack.

All the victims were Tamils who were employees at the rice mill belonging to a muslim owner, sources said.

Police came to the crime spot around 1.30 AM and transferred the wounded persons to Amparai hospital.

The reason behind the attack is unclear, according to the Police.

Gunmen had used T-56 rifle to fire inside the room, according to Akkaraipattu Police Officer In-Charge (OIC) Mr Sarath Gamage who is conducting investigations into the attack.

Pattiyadipitty is located in Amparai district in Akkariapattu, 64 km south of Batticaloa.